In a letter to his spiritual son,
Timothy, Paul wrote, some 1900 years ago, about his conversion:
“[I] was before a
blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious, but I obtained mercy, because I
did it ignorantly in unbelief. AND THE GRACE OF OUR LORD WAS EXCEEDING
ABUNDANT…” (I Timothy 1:13,14).
And he follows this with the now-famous
declaration:
“THIS IS A FAITHFUL
SAYING, AND WORTHY OF ALL ACCEPTATION, THAT CHRIST JESUS CAME INTO THE WORLD TO
SAVE SINNERS, OF WHOM I AM CHIEF” (Ver 15).
Upon reading this statement by Paul,
those who know their Bibles will immediately recall the words of Romans
5:20,21:
“…the law entered,
that the offence might abound, BUT WHERE SIN ABOUNDED, GRACE DID MUCH MORE
ABOUND; THAT AS SIN HATH REIGNED… SO MIGHT GRACE REIGN…”
These two passages from the pen of Paul
have a closer connection than may appear on the surface. The Apostle Paul, once
Saul of Tarsus, had led his nation and the world in rebellion against Christ.
“As for Saul,” we read in Acts 8:3, “he made havoc of the church,” and he
himself testified to the Galatians: “Ye have heard… how that beyond measure I
persecuted the church of God, and laid it waste” (Gal. 1:13).
Yet God, in infinite mercy, had saved
Saul, not only for Saul’s own sake, but to make him the living demonstration of
His grace. Thus in writing to Timothy, the Apostle goes on to explain:
“Howbeit, FOR THIS
CAUSE I OBTAINED MERCY, THAT IN ME FIRST JESUS CHRIST MIGHT SHOW FORTH ALL
LONGSUFFER1NG, FOR A PATTERN TO THEM WHICH SHOULD HEREAFTER BELIEVE ON HIM TO
LIFE EVERLASTING” (I Timothy 1:16).
Let us, then, take our places with
Saul, the sinner, and find salvation by grace through Christ, the Savior.
“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:31).
The Revelation of The Mystery - Pastor J. C. O'Hair
How
God Saves Men
Believing
Christ DIED, that’s HISTORY.
Believing
Christ DIED for YOU SINS and Rose again that’s SALVATION.
Read
Romans 1:16, Romans 10:9-10 and 1. Corinthians 15:1-4
(A 10 Minute Video)
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